Experts: Govt should launch awareness campaign to be transparent on safety
To allay concerns brought about by anti-vaxxers, health experts suggest that the government come up with a campaign to educate Malaysians on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines. The National Council on Islamic Affairs has given the go ahead for inoculation.
Health experts are urging the government to come up with a vaccination awareness campaign now to alleviate public fears and concerns over the Covid-19 vaccine with the arrival of the first batch by February.
Universiti Malaya expert virologist Prof Dr Sazaly Abu Bakar said through a campaign, the government should explain how the vaccine actually works.
“What we do not want is the ripple effect after this in which not only the Covid-19 vaccine is affected but also vaccines for other infectious diseases which we have been using for eons.
“Anti-vaxxers are trying to sow distrust on vaccines. It is not just about the Covid-19 vaccine but their aim will be affecting all the other childhood disease vaccinations which is not good,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He explained that a vaccine can only enter the country after the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency ( NPRA) approves it although the government has made allocations to purchase the vaccine.
“The vaccine cannot be brought in and distributed to the people until the NPRA has verified that it is safe to use.
“The rakyat should not be concerned about all these other issues that are non-scientific, non-science-based and non-data-based. What the rakyat should know is that there are different platforms for different vaccines.
“This is good because that means the government is giving us the option of choosing which vaccine we want to take eventually as there are people who are allergic to certain components of a vaccine. Maybe when one vaccine is not suitable, another one is suitable,” he said.
So far, the Health Ministry had implemented a nationwide survey to gauge the interest of Malaysians in getting the Covid-19 vaccine.
It was also announced that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would be among the first to take the vaccination.
Universiti Putra Malaysia medical epidemiologist Assoc Prof Dr Malina Osman said proper policy and regulation is needed to handle vaccine skeptics and anti-vaxxers.
“Once we have bold scientific evidence on the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine, the gazettement under the law should be carried out to disallow those who have no authority to talk against the vaccine, and there should also be provision on an appropriate punishment for those who talk ‘nonsense’ about the vaccine,” she said.
“In the Muslim community, the issue on whether the vaccine is halal or not have been raised by those who reject the vaccine. This group provides isolated evidence against the decree by recognised religious scholars towards acceptance of the treatment from the Islamic point of view,” she said.
Prof Dr Moy Foong Ming, from Universiti Malaya Faculty of Medicine’s Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, concurred that a vaccination campaign should be set up while also being transparent on the safety, side effects and efficacy of the vaccine.
“The government should be transparent on the safety, side effects and efficacy of the vaccine. The total uptake and among subgroups of vaccination should also be presented to the public.
“The media should publish equally on information of the efficacy and safety as well as the side effects of the vaccine.
“Clear explanation of why the side effects happen, who are the high-risk groups and what are the chances of a side effect that will happen should be presented to alleviate people’s fears,” she said, adding that relevant government agencies should address religious concerns.
Dr Moy added that highlighting the fact that “all vaccines and medicines have some side effects, including Covid-19 vaccine” should be emphasised to the public.
Doing their part: Dr Nur Amalina (left)
received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine last month while Walter received
the Sinopharm vaccination in October last year.
A participant trying her hand at composting with a pipe during the
chemical-free urban farming workshop by CAP.
THE movement control order (MCO) saw people stocking up on essentials like canned food, rice, noodles and seasoning, but they overlooked the need for greens in their diet.
Perhaps, marketing and buying vegetables would not have been a matter of top priority during such trying times but many failed to realise that one can grow these greens in the tiniest space available.
To teach the public on the perks of having their own greens to cook as well as ways to make these plants thrive under any living condition, Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has come to the rescue by holding its monthly chemical-free urban farming workshop.
CAP education officer N.V. Subbarow shared how many do not realise about the chemicals that are used to keep vegetables fresh for days.
Subbarow (in green) showing participants how to make compost using
organic waste at the workshop at the CAP premises in Jalan Masjid
Negeri, Penang. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
“If you can plant and grow your own vegetables it would be great.
“Now with this pandemic, many are not consuming vegetables as it is considered easier to just eat canned or take-away food.
“There are many preservatives in those meals and in the long run it can cause health issues.
“If one can plant and grow greens in their house, it would not only be good for their health but the environment as well.
“Here we are teaching people the correct way to plant vegetables and how to produce compost to ensure a great yield as well, ” he said at one of the workshops at the CAP premises in Jalan Masjid Negeri, Penang, recently.
Subbarow said the workshop aimed to teach people how to plant vegetables like chilli, okra and other greens.
“We have tested shop-bought vegetables and many times they contain chemicals to keep them fresh.
“Here you know what goes into growing your vegetables at home.
“We have ways in which people can plant their vegetables even if they are living in an apartment.
“These are vegetables that are consumed daily.
“You only need the right soil.
“They can be planted in pre-used pots or containers, ” he said.
Subbarow said the participants were taught to not only plant vegetables, but also on how to keep pests away from plants organically by using other plants to ward them off as well as homemade growth enhancers for plants using fish and brown sugar.
“It can be a whole family hobby, planting and harvesting their vegetables.
“I encourage families to plant now as they can start harvesting in weeks or a few months depending on what they plant.
“This is one way to save money as well, because by cooking two vegetable dishes from your garden, you have covered one meal for the day, ” he said.
Subbarow then taught the participants how to make compost, one being collecting organic waste and making compost in a container.
“Then there is the seven pot system where organic waste is placed in a pot a day with pots marked for each day of the week.
“This helps keep track of your compost and then you can plant something in each pot.
“The third way is where a pipe is placed in the pot with 5cm of the pipe buried in the soil.
“Organic waste is placed in the pipe and the pipe is closed to avoid water mixing with the compost.
“The roots of the plant in the pot will absorb the nutrients from the compost, ” he said.
CAP education officer Saraswathi Devi Odian also taught participants to layer soil in a pot.
“People do not realise you have to mix the soil.
“You need half the pot to be filled with garden soil, the other half has to be equal parts of sand, red soil and compost, ” she said.
Friends Rachel Jasmine Richard and M. Deenadayalani, both 27, were happy to attend the workshop to learn about planting vegetables.
Friends
Rachel Jasmine Richard (right) and M. Deenadayalani (left), both 27,
feeling the texture of the soil during the free chemical urban farming
training organised by Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) at its
premises in Jalan Masjid Negeri, Penang./PicbY:CHAN BOON KAI/The Star/25
July 2020.
Rachel said she had planted curry leaves and pandan, but now realised that she did not use the right soil.
“I only used garden soil which is not good enough.
“I now want to plant chillies and will do it the right way.
“I always wondered if I could use the peels from vegetables and fruits, now I know I can compost it, ” said the customer service representative.
Deenadayalani, whose mother loves to plant vegetables, said they have quite a number of greens in their garden.
THERE’S finally light at the end of the tunnel from a dark period in modern history. The race to complete the final stage of testing the Covid-19 vaccine is almost at the finish line.
In Britain, the vaccination exercise has kicked off with people above 80 years old, since they’re the most vulnerable to the dreadful virus.
But let’s not get carried away. Only the British government has expedited the approval because it’s bracing for a huge spike with the coming winter.
The United States government only officially approved the use of Pfizer Inc’s Covid-19 vaccine on Friday, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting an emergency use authorisation for healthcare workers and elderly people in long-term care facilities in its first round of 2.9 million doses.
The FDA is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs in the US. The FDA has always been used as a benchmark by most countries in providing approvals.
Last week, MyEG Services Bhd announced that it will work with Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co Ltd (Zhifei) to obtain the Malaysian halal certification for the Chinese biopharma company’s Covid-19 vaccine, and to exclusively distribute it in Malaysia for a three-year period.
It said the two companies had signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in conducting Phase 3 clinical trials of Zhifei’s vaccine in Malaysia and to meet the halal status requirements of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).
In September, loss-making Ho Wah Genting, which had been searching for a core-income generating business for a while, declared it was officially in the race to produce vaccines.
It announced that it had been appointed by a China-based diagnostic reagents manufacturer as its designated overseas sales agent for Covid-19 diagnostic products in Asean countries.
More recently, a Covid-19 research centre not linked to any medical institution, also sprouted and began issuing press releases to the media.
Firstly, let’s be clear that there’s nothing to stop the private sector from playing a role in the search for a vaccine source. In fact, I think it’s commendable that these companies are ready to play a complementary role.
If the intention is to help their bottom line, and in the process, propel their share prices, it’ll be up to shareholders to be mindful, and perhaps the Securities Commission to keep its eyes open.
Individuals hoping to set up a non-governmental organisation, including for Covid-19, have the right to do so, but their authority and credibility are for the public and media to decide.
The private sector, in fact, should be encouraged to take a stronger role in the fight against the pandemic, as the number of cases continue to climb in Malaysia.
The truth is, while we’ve relaxed the rules, with a crippling economy in mind, our situation has gotten worse. Let’s be honest – statistics don’t lie.
Only those with a warped mind, like conspiracy theorists, think the numbers in Malaysia have been manipulated and jacked up for political reasons. It’s an insult to dedicated professionals like Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and his team of frontliners, who haven’t taken a day off since the Movement Control Order (MCO) began in March.
The number of positive cases in Malaysia could likely be higher because only targeted areas and cases are tested, including travellers, medical treatment seekers and foreign workers.
The average daily cases (originally three digits in March and rendering us house bound) has passed the 2,000 mark now.
Most of us feel the end is near and that even with the staggering new numbers, we are certain that the cure is just round the corner, what with all the media hype over 90% efficacy by these drug companies.
Unfortunately, none of the vaccines have been approved by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency of Malaysia yet. Companies bringing in Covid-19 vaccines must also be registered with the NPRA – it doesn’t matter if these vaccines are from the UK, US, China or Russia.
I’ve been reliably informed that until today, no private companies have applied despite their announcements. So, nothing has been approved.
Like the US, Malaysia has also decided to wait until all the vaccines have completed the final stages of trials and are properly approved.
With the situation exceptionally dire there though, the FDA is reported to be ready to approve emergency use of Covid-19 vaccines in the US as more than 285,000 people have died from the virus.
But as with all testing, there will be cases of side effects, including fatalities. Tests are often called off and then resumed, which is normal, but if we are to read the Western media, only US and UK-made vaccines are good enough.
They have put the Chinese and Russian products in bad light by insinuating they are inferior products.
This isn’t just a question involving billions of dollars, but a race for political and diplomatic achievements.
It won’t be surprising if the US FDA refuses to approve the Chinese and Russian products. And if that happens, then those nations would need to turn to the World Health Organisation.
So many of us have been brain-washed into believing that everything from the West is good and most things from China are inferior or not of international standards.
The New York Times reported that researchers are currently testing 57 vaccines in clinical trials on humans, and at least 86 pre-clinical vaccines are under active investigation on animals.
I am told that China has provided its initial consignment of vaccines from state-owned Sinopharm to Malaysia, and that we would be carrying out trials with the Medical Research and Ethics Committee to finalise the stringent criteria.
Shipments of Beijing-based Sinovac’s vaccine, CoronaVac, have arrived in Indonesia in preparation for a mass vaccination campaign, with another 1.8 million doses due by next month.
Sinovac’s edge is that it can be stored in a standard refrigerator at 2-8 degrees Celsius, like Oxford’s AstraZeneca, while Moderna’s vaccine needs to be stored at -20 C and Pfizer’s at -70 C.
That means the Chinese and UK vaccines are more practical for developing countries like Malaysia. Otherwise, we’d have issues storing large amounts of vaccine at extremely low temperatures because special storage facilities will be needed, which seems almost out of the question for rural areas.
Then, there’s the halal issue. The concerns among Muslims about the shots containing substances forbidden by Islam is understandable as the same issue was also brought up by Muslims in Indonesia.
But here are some simple medical rules – the Malaysian government does not register a medicine based on halal or non-halal status. No medicine carries a Jakim sticker that says halal certified.
Malaysia has inked a deal with Pfizer to supply 12.8 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine for 20% of the population. It has also reportedly entered a pact with Covax Facility, the global Covid-19 vaccine development platform, to cover another 10% of the population.
This is a life and death situation. No one needs to be an Islamic theology expert to know what Islam says about emergency cases relating to starvation or medical treatment. Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has reportedly said that “even if there is an ingredient which is not permissible, the chemical transformation process will make it clean and halal.”
The Special Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Malaysian Islamic Affairs met on Dec 3 to discuss whether the vaccine can be administered to Muslims.
Religious Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Zulkifli Mohamed Al-Bakri said the decision would be announced by the King.
Given the grounds to this concern, this is certainly the right course of action, especially in curtailing it from becoming both religious and political issues, or from companies exploiting the matter for commercial reasons by making all sorts of claims.
As someone privileged to have met Zulkifli, who tested positive himself, I can vouch that he is one of the most rational and practical Islamic scholars.
The United Arab Emirates, a Muslim country, has accepted the China-made Sinopharm and Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, is ready to take the vaccine from China, too. And Saudi Arabia has embraced Pfizer’s vaccine.
The end of Covid-19 is in sight for sure. The fact that Malaysia is already talking of vaccination and testing approaches, means we’re already making practical preparations.
Last week, I spoke to Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope, the chief executive officer of Pharmaniaga Bhd, the company tasked with bottling and transporting the Covid-19 vaccine for Malaysia.
The company is already preparing for the distribution of these vaccines and is just waiting for the government’s approval for the big day.
Zulkarnain is an excited man and rattled off details of what and how Pharmaniaga has readied itself to be part of history and saving lives.
For most Malaysians, 2020 has been a horrible year of Covid-19 and squabbling politicians.
What a toxic combination. For sure, we can’t wait to welcome 2021.
From page 15 BEIJING: Research and development of coronavirus vaccines in China are at the final stages, with preparations in place for their mass production, said the head of the country’s Covid19 vaccine development task force.
There are five domestically developed vaccines under a phase-3 clinical trial, the final stage before attaining approval from the authorities, making China a leading country in Covid-19 vaccine development, said Zheng Zhongwei, who is also director of the National Health Commission’s development centre for medical science and technology.
Despite taking a leading role in Covid-19 vaccine research and development, China does not rush to compete in the field, Zheng told Xinhua on Wednesday.
Vaccines should be evaluated by criteria such as safety, effectiveness, accessibility and affordability before they are approved for market availability, he said, adding that China is being prepared for the mass production of vaccines.
Researchers in China have been racing to develop Covid-19 vaccines. A total of 15 vaccines using five different technologies are under clinical trials in China.
Of them, five are undergoing phase-3 clinical trials in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and Pakistan, as domestic trials involving many volunteers are not practical due to the effective control and prevention of the epidemic on the Chinese mainland.- ANN/THE STAR
The method of fighting the epidemic is a scientific issue
and there should not be politics or ideology. Those labels that have
nothing to do with the scientific COVID-19 fight should be discarded.
Source: Global Times | 2020/12/22 22:01:53
A forum on vaccine industry marketing was held on
Saturday in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan Province. Organized by the
China Association for Vaccines, the forum attracted hundreds of
enterprises, analysts, lawyers and scholars, who shared the latest
information on the vaccine industry
The research and development process for a new vaccine
usually takes at least a decade. But the deadly pandemic pushed the
world to shorten the process to less than one year, which apparently
increases the public's worries over the products' safety and efficacy.
Can people accept such a hastily developed vaccine? Continue reading and
let the evidence speak for itself.
China's leading vaccine maker Sinovac is working around
the clock to prepare for mass production, with the first production line
to secure 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine annually, the Global
Times learned after an exclusive visit to the company's plant in
Beijing.
As the overseas pandemic situation remains grave, China
faces increasing pressure to prevent imported cases. Particularly,
recent reports of frozen pork, lamb, beef, shrimp and fish products
testing positive for COVID-19 in over a dozen regions across China have
raised widespread concerns over the risks of infection through cold
chain trade due to its long supply chain and virus-friendly environment.
With the continuous spread of good news about COVID-19
vaccines, how to ensure its transportation has become a hot topic for
the global cargo industry. Analysts believe that vaccine transportation
will stimulate the aviation recovery, but questions remain about how to
make the transportation safe.
China is the most populous developing country in the world. It is very difficult to realize collaborated progress among various sectors. With a limited budget, China has multiple tasks at the same time - it has to encourage developing high-tech abilities, expand room and provide driving forces for social advancement, at the same time strive to improve people's livelihood, and input social fairness into the top design of national strategies.
For a long time, some people believe China has not done enough to balance these developments. Voices have existed that China invested excessive resources to fields such as aerospace. Despite difficulties, compared to other countries, China has tried its best to reach a balance and has achieved positive results.
Since China implemented the reform and opening-up policy, the most prominent and well-known national goal has been achieving a moderately prosperous society. People's livelihood and fairness and justice have always been the focus of attention in Chinese society. A technology-centered national strategy and people-oriented economic development have highly integrated.
In the past few decades, the Chinese people have been developing the aerospace field, but their livelihood has also been improving. The lunar exploration project is not a political vanity project - it is well within the ability of Chinese society.
The progress in high-tech areas such as aerospace has pushed up China's strategic competitiveness overall. At the same time, people are living better lives. Without the advancement in high-tech areas, China's prosperity would lack the backbone and long-term guarantee.
As an emerging major power, China's per capita GDP is not the highest among developing countries. But China's major scientific progress in recent years is undoubtedly the most prominent among developing countries and general developed countries. China is a large country, and this has exerted its unique incubation advantages in promoting major technological progress. This is gratifying.
China has long implemented a market economy, but has maintained the guiding role of the government. This prevents our market economy from repeating and hovering at a low level, and also prevents us from being satisfied with the low-end prosperity of the global value chain. The Chinese nation's self-motivated spirit continues to release momentum, successfully supported by the country's system. Thus, we can move forward in a balanced manner and with a clear sense of direction.
China has not regarded technological development or achievements in aerospace as an overriding goal. Nor has China formed a circle of high-tech elites, separating from the general Chinese public or even leading to the division of the rich and poor. Compared with China, today's aerospace engineering in India is relatively difficult. But it is the Indian people's choice to explore the Moon and Mars no matter how difficult it is.
China's high-tech development still has a long and arduous way to go. We may need to devote more resources to cutting-edge technologies such as aerospace.
Frankly, the Chinese public has principled support for this, but such support has not been fully transformed into preferential treatment of high-tech industries and talent in these fields. There is still a lot of room for us to continue our efforts in this area.
As for China's modernization, it is an indispensable basic progress for our aerospace technology to reach world-class levels. There are unlimited possibilities in space, and most resources that support the human being's future development must be outside the Earth. We need to travel to space step by step, and our good, fair and just social governance will provide strength for this. Our ambitions and dreams will encourage perseverance. Chang'e-5 is just the beginning.
Closely following the complete success of Chang'e-5 lunar
sample return mission on Thursday, China's National Space
Administration (CNSA) disclosed plans for a slew of ambitious space
projects that include a new three-step plan for the country's future
moon and deeper space exploration missions, which Wu Yanhua, the CNSA
deputy head, referred to as "surveying, constructing, and exploiting,"
as opposed to the already conquered goals of "orbiting, landing and
returning" to the Earth's natural satellite.
With Chang'e-5 probe making a perfect conclusion to its
23-day journey to the moon, bringing back soil from Earth's celestial
neighbor, Central China's Hunan Province, the hometown of the late .
The US is getting bogged down in a humanitarian disaster caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. However, US federal government officials maintain an indifferent attitude, refusing to mobilize the entire country to adopt forceful emergency measures. This is heinous malfeasance. They are undoubtedly committing a monstrous crime that cannot be forgiven.
The US reported 1 million new COVID-19 cases in the first five days of December and more than 2,000 daily deaths. On Thursday alone, the country recorded 2,879 deaths caused by COVID-19. Hospitals are running out of beds. Crematoriums and cemeteries in some parts of the US have insufficient capacity to cope with the crisis.
The US, which is supposed to be the most developed country in the world today, has become the most terrifying place on the planet where the novel coronavirus is claiming lives.
What is a living hell? The US is a vivid portrayal of that right now. Quite a few countries have become crippled due to US "human rights" accusations. Others have been kidnapped by alliances with the US.
But it is time for the international community to stand up bravely and point at the current ruling administration of the US. The super power must be bluntly told: You are killing your own people. You are crossing the bottom line of humanitarianism. You are a shameful deserter and traitor of humanity as the rest of us fiercely fight the virus.
All people are born equal. Everyone has the right to avoid infection and death from disease. Even if they refuse to comply with epidemic prevention measures due to personal reasons the government is supposed to create conditions to protect them, not leaving them alone with the excuse of "God's" mercy.
Americans are also humans. They are not supposed to be treated as expendables of the Trump administration's defenseless epidemic strategy. So far, more than 281,000 Americans have died because of the novel coronavirus. It is predicted that daily death counts could surpass 4,000 in the coming months. This is a massacre, and a shame for humanity in the 21st century.
A Brookings Institution survey found that 10 percent of American mothers reported that their children under the age of five went hungry to some degree in October and November. Nearly 12 percent of adults said they live in a household where there was not enough to eat "sometimes" or "often" last month, according to the US Department of Commerce. Long lines are spotted in the US with people queuing up for free food. Is that what the world's richest country should look like?
There are many defects and loopholes in the US federal government's abilities to effectively handle the public health crisis under the current administration. The US has been dragged into a long-term political struggle by its political elites. People can clearly see that the current US government has no interest in fighting the virus. They're only focused on election-related political interests. US society has been divided because of polarized politics. It cannot reach a consensus on pandemic controls. It appears to be a collapsing sand castle.
If the COVID-19 pandemic were something that couldn't be curbed, the US failure could be forgiven. But many Asian countries and economies, including China, have put the virus' spread under control. This fully indicates it can be contained. As such, the US has neither reason nor morality to give up its anti-pandemic efforts.
The current US government attaches great importance to economy. But is the US economy getting better? What else economic results can the US government boast about except the abnormal prosperity caused by rushes of hot money into the stock market from quantitative easing?
The pandemic lays bare the arrogance and stupidity of this US government. It has no moral compass and has shirked its own responsibilities by passing the buck to others. So many lives have been lost. It's a tragedy caused by capitalist tyranny under the disguise of "democracy and freedom."
What punishments will the politicians who committed these crimes against humanity receive? Everyone in the world is watching the US now, expecting the incoming administration to have the moral courage to punish evil and stand steadfast for righteous justice and rule of law.
Mar 17, 2016 ...http://t.cn/RG38MOa. Chinese documentary reveals US hypocrisy on humanrights. A TV documentary highlighting the US's double standards ...
Mar 17, 2016 ... The United States' confrontational attitude toward China on human rights serves
only its national interests, and it also harms global governance ...
It was partly cloudy but the mercury still registered a high 33ºC.
That was the temperature recorded here yesterday.
So for most urbanites, refuge from the heat comes from air-conditioned places. And barely anyone drives a car without air-condition these days.
Air-conditioners have become such a huge part in people’s lives that there is little discussion about the downside of extended usage.
But it has now been suggested that prolonged usage could cause problems – from drowsiness to affecting a person’s concentration due to high carbon dioxide (CO2) levels.
“I have measured CO2 levels in my car while driving from USJ (Subang Jaya) to Mid Valley. The CO2 levels exceeded 2,500 parts per million (ppm) for a 35-minute drive.
“So, I would expect the CO2 levels in bedrooms to be high in the morning, if all windows are closed, ” the Malaysian chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (Ashrae) former president Leong Siew Meng (pic) said.
Under the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 issued by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, the ceiling limit for CO2 was at 1,000ppm for healthy indoor air quality (IAQ).
Poor IAQ levels have been linked to short-term and long-term problems ranging from allergic reactions, respiratory problems and eye irritation to sinusitis and bronchitis.
A research paper published by the Nature Sustainability journal, titled “Direct Human Health Risks of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide”, also suggested that even with a level as low as 1,000 ppm, CO2 levels have the potential to pose health problems despite exposure to it lasting only a few hours.
The journal noted that the health risks from high CO2 levels include inflammation, reduced higher-level cognitive abilities, bone demineralisation, kidney calcification and oxidative stress.
“High CO2 levels in cars also have the potential to cause drowsiness, ” Leong said.
He noted that some households would install fixed windows, which meant that they could not be opened.
With fixed windows, Leong said CO2 levels would build up in the enclosed space as many households used split-unit air-conditioners that do not bring outdoor air in.
“Those who are asthmatic and sleep with air-conditioning turned on overnight will worsen their condition, ” he said.
As a solution to sleeping in an air-conditioned room, Leong suggested that one should leave a small gap of between one to two centimetres in a window for infiltration of outdoor air.
For occupants who rely on an intake of outdoor air, he suggested installing a small exhaust fan in the room.
“As a solution for long-distance driving, latch open the vehicle louvre occasionally to bring in outdoor air to overcome the build-up of carbon dioxide concentrations (when outdoor air is not polluted by heavy vehicles in front or open burning in the surroundings)”, he said.
Ashrae president Ng Wen Bin said worsening asthma problems, allergies as well as sick building syndrome were health issues that could result from contaminated air conditioning units.
“This sick building syndrome is associated with symptoms such as nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, headache, fatigue, and skin irritation.
“There may be some microorganisms growing in the air conditioning system as the process of cooling warm air generates a lot of moisture and condensation, which must be discharged.
“So, if your air conditioner does a bad job of this, whether due to poor maintenance, damage or careless design, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, ” he said.
Ng said to better protect one’s health, the best defence is a well-maintained and routinely serviced air conditioning unit.
The Nature Sustainability journal noted that environmental exposure to CO2 should also be viewed from the perspective of vulnerable groups – infants, the elderly and weak, and high-exposure groups such as populations residing in urban CO2 domes and in tropical climates.
A September 2019 report published by Ashrae titled “Do Indoor CO2 Levels Directly Affect Perceived Air Quality, Health, or Work Performance?” found that several studies had provided “strong evidence” of reductions in cognitive performance due to increased levels of CO2.
However, the study acknowledged that the results were not consistent with other studies which found that there were “no effects” in the reduction in cognitive performance, adding that none could be found either on acute health symptoms and perceived air quality of CO2 below 5,000ppm.
Cool comfort: A mother switching on the air-conditioner in her children’s bedroom.
You’ve heard it from time immemorial. But it’s worth repeating even in 2020. “Get some fresh air!”
Experts have cautioned about health concerns linked to poor indoor air quality (IAQ).
Malaysia Green Building Council chief executive officer Tang Chee Khoay said fresh outdoor air was needed as it had the potential to impact a person’s performance whether at work or in school.
Those who slept with air-conditioning turned on throughout the night might wake up feeling “not sharp” and those who worked in a room with closed windows might feel easily tired due to increased carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, he said.
Hence, Tang said it was important to allow a small gap of fresh air to enter a room.
“Fresh air is dependent on leakages when you open the door, windows or some cracks between the doors to replace the oxygen which has been consumed.
“People often claim that putting indoor plants in the house replenishes oxygen, but you actually need a lot of it. One or two pots will not help, ” he said.
As most commercial buildings are fitted with a centralised air-conditioning system, Tang said those systems are designed to allow fresh air in from the outside.
But he lamented that most people chose to close the outdoor air-conditioning vent to save cost.
“There must be a balance in allowing outdoor air in, ” he said.
Asean-Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Association (Asean–ACRA) president Datuk Seri Dr Ricky Yaw concurred that there must be a balance in the usage of air-conditioners.
He believes that air leaks through doors, ceilings and windows were sufficient for normal households while those with fixed windows might notice “stuffiness” in their house due to the high CO2 levels from isolated air circulation.
“High CO2 levels will make you feel very sleepy and stuffy. Even in vehicles, it is better to open the (outdoor air-conditioner) vent as a person will feel better, ” said Yaw, who is also the Malaysian Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Association immediate past president.
William Rodney Yeo, the managing director for Airestec, a life and environmental sciences eco-friendly company that addresses indoor air problems, urged people to service their air-conditioners at least once a year to ensure good IAQ levels.
“Air conditioning systems deteriorate (when coils are not cleaned) which leads to greater energy consumption because airflow is reduced which then sees humidity levels go up, ” Yeo said.
Yeo noted that the conventional methods of cleaning air-conditioners with acid and alkalis should change too, adding that it was bad for the environment.
He suggested using eco-friendly methods such as bio-enzymes.
The Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said a typical level found in spaces with good air should be from below 350 to 1,000 ppm.
Anything more than 1,000 to 2,000 ppm, was associated with drowsiness and poor air.
And levels from 2,000 to 5,000 ppm were generally associated with headaches, sleepiness, stagnant, stale, and stuffy air, he said.
Many Malaysians unfazed by air-cond concerns
There are health hazards in the prolonged use of air-conditioning but for Malaysians who find the tropical heat simply unbearable, the risk is shrugged off.
Donald Yong, 57, is one, and in fact, he begs to differ.
“I have been using (air-conditioner) for the last three decades and I am still around. I am not dead yet, ” said the retiree.
“I believe air-conditioners are not harmful as it prevents outdoor pollution from entering the house. If there are concerns about skin dryness, then a pail of water should be placed in the room, ” he said.
He is not concerned about the health effects and spends an average 12 hours in the air-conditioned comfort of his home.
“The air-conditioner improves the air quality indoors and we get to enjoy a cosy environment, ” he said.
Freelance consultant Grace Low, 60, acknowledged the potential health problems but she was of the view that the pros outweigh the cons.
“I use the air-conditioner for at least three to four hours a day when I’m not working and an additional eight hours if I am, ” she said.
Low said that she would only use the air-conditioner to cool down the room before bedtime.
And when driving, she said she would not open the outdoor air-conditioning vent due to pollution in the air.
For Tajuddin Hussin, 30, who rents an apartment in Kuala Lumpur, he has no air-conditioner at home as it was not provided.
“When I moved in about 10 years ago, the place did not come fitted with an air-conditioner so I became used to it. After so many years living with just a fan in my room, I did not see a need to get an air-conditioner, ” the self-employed man said.
Engineer S. Ruth, 31, said she was aware of the potential problems arising from the prolonged use of air-conditioners.
“I am under an air-conditioner for about nine hours when I’m at work or more when I have to work overtime. So, when I get home, I would only turn it on for an hour to cool down the room, ” she said.
South Korea has reported 38,161 cases, with 549 deaths.PHOTO: REUTERS
SEOUL (REUTERS) - South Korean authorities urged vigilance on Saturday (Dec 5) as small coronavirus clusters emerged in a third wave, centred in the Seoul area, with infections near nine-month highs.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 583 new coronavirus infections, down from the previous day's 629, which was the highest since a first wave peaked in February and early March.
After implementing tighter restrictions on Saturday, the government is to decide on Sunday whether to further tighten curbs in a country that had seen initial success through aggressive contact tracing and other steps.
Infections of the virus that causes Covid-19 averaged 487.9 this week, up 80 cases from the week before.
This wave of infections is different from the first two, which were driven by large-scale transmission, said KDCA official Lim Sook-young.
"The recent outbreaks are small, multiple and is spread in people’s everyday lives," Ms Lim told a news briefing.
"Please keep in mind that the current wave is not limited to a specific group or place but may be around our homes, family and acquaintances."
Seoul accounted for 235 of the new infections. More than half of South Korea’s 52 million people live in the capital and surrounding areas.
Among Seoul’s small but widespread clusters, confirmed cases linked to a dance class rose by nine to 249 in less than two weeks, while 21 people tested positive in a cluster related to a wine bar.
Seoul launched unprecedented curfews on Saturday, shuttering most establishments and shops at 9pm for two weeks and cutting back public transportation operations by 30 per cent in the evenings.
Tighter restrictions would be a blow to Asia's fourth-largest economy, which reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.2 per cent in October, the highest since July.
The number of people seriously or severely ill with Covid-19 rose by five to 121, using more of the nation's swindling sickbeds, KDCA reported.
The health authorities said on Friday there were just 59 sickbeds immediately available for serious or severe cases and that the beds might run out in less than two weeks.
South Korea has reported 36,915 coronavirus infections and 540 deaths, the KDCA said.
South Korea to boost testing as coronavirus surge threatens ‘medical collapse’
SEOUL - South Korean President Moon Jae-in has urged the country’s authorities to undertake more efforts in tracking and tracing coronavirus infections.
This comes as tightened measures have failed to reduce the rate of daily infections.
The country reported 615 new Covid-19 cases on Monday (Dec 7), raising the total to 38,161. Health officials have warned that the number of new daily cases could spike to over 900 next week if the pace of infection continues.
New restrictions to be imposed from Tuesday include a ban on gatherings of 50 or more people and closure of some 130,000 infection-prone facilities.
In meetings with aides on Monday, Mr Moon called on the government to mobilise “every available personnel”, from civil servants to those in the military and police, to provide on-site support for epidemiological investigations starting this week.
He also stressed the need to set up more drive-through test centres and expand the operating hours of testing facilities to allow office workers and young people to go for testing more conveniently, according to the presidential Blue House.
The President also instructed officials to push for the use of rapid antigen tests that can produce results in just 15 minutes, as compared to the six hours the usual polymerase chain reaction (PRC) tests require.
“We have overcome the coronavirus crisis several times, but the situation now is more serious than ever,” he said, citing the worrying trend of increased asymptomatic transmission.
Mr Moon also warned that an “uncontrollable nationwide pandemic” could ensue if the country failed to curb the spread of the virus this time.
His message came as South Korea imposed another round of measures against the virus in Seoul and greater Seoul.
From Tuesday, the social distancing level will be raised one notch to 2.5 - the fourth in a five-tier system - for three weeks.
This means banning gatherings of 50 or more people, even at weddings and funeral halls, and closing karaoke rooms and indoor sports facilities, which were previously allowed to run until 9pm.
Sporting events can no longer allow spectators, and religious activities must go online.
Elementary schools can only run at one-third capacity, while middle and high schools continue to conduct lessons online.
From Tuesday, the subway in Seoul will cut capacity by 30 per cent after 9pm, in line with the city’s plan to “stop Seoul” at 9pm to curb the worst bout of infections since March.
In place since last Saturday, the curfew also applies to malls, movie theatres, beauty salons and supermarkets.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said Seoul and greater Seoul are already in a state of “war” against the virus, as their daily infection figure surged to a nine-month high of 470 on Sunday, before dropping to 440 on Monday.
He also voiced concern over two consecutive days of 600-plus caseloads, noting that the number usually declines over the weekend as testing centres are closed on Sundays and operate only half a day on Saturdays.
“Unless we curb the spread of the virus... we will see an explosive spread of infections and the country’s medical system will falter,” he said.
But small businesses that had to cut operating hours or close completely are more worried about their bottom line.
Mr Alexander Kim, 46, whose indoor golf simulator club will have to close for three weeks, said his earnings this month is just a fraction of his rent and management fees.
“Winter is peak season for us but now we cannot even open for business,” he told The Straits Times. “I just hope the third wave will be over soon. Meanwhile, I can spend more time with family.”
Friends
Rachel Jasmine Richard (right) and M. Deenadayalani (left), both 27,
feeling the texture of the soil during the free chemical urban farming
training organised by Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) at its
premises in Jalan Masjid Negeri, Penang./PicbY:CHAN BOON KAI/The Star/25
July 2020.
